An international symposium on the copyright protection and promotion of traditional cultural folklore was held on Nov 26 in Quanzhou, Fujian province.

The symposium, jointly hosted by China's National Copyright Administration and the World Intellectual Property Organization, aims to establish a high-level platform for international dialogue and seeks to explore new approaches and build consensus for the work related to the copyright of traditional cultural folklore in the new era.

The administration said in a statement that folk art is often regarded as a "living fossil" of human civilization, representing cultural treasures accumulated by various ethnic groups over long historical processes.

Striking a balance between preservation and development, inheritance and innovation, localization and globalization is a significant challenge faced by nations worldwide, according to the statement.

It highlighted that building a governance system that both upholds cultural roots and embraces the changes of the times is essential, calling on parties to strengthen copyright protection to safeguard the roots of folk art.

Meanwhile, it stressed the need to promote industry integration and invigorate cultural innovation, as well as to nurture young talent to embrace the digital age.

Additionally, it is crucial to deepen international cooperation to help build bridges for mutual learning among civilizations, the statement said.

It encouraged stakeholders to work together to build consensus and explore more effective paths for protection. By doing so, the rich and diverse folk art can become a link connecting different civilizations, it noted.

In mutual respect, equality, and mutually beneficial exchanges, the folk arts of various countries can achieve harmonious coexistence, injecting profound cultural strength into the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind, it added.

Over 300 participants attended the event, including officials from the organization and its China office, intellectual property officials from 11 countries, representatives from relevant departments of China's copyright offices, pilot regions for the protection and promotion of folk art copyright, copyright associations, business representatives, and experts.